Notes / Commercial Description:
Our Imperial India Pale Ale is a hopped-up version of beers made famous during the British Raj over a century ago. Big malt, bold hops and a higher-alcohol content all mean one thing: more flavour.

The carbonation is even, and relatively laid back, the body a decent medium weight, and fairly smooth, the airy creaminess hitting hard from the get-go. It finishes off-dry, the baker's delight malt holding tight, as the hops give it one last sharply fruity wallop.

A pretty enjoyable DIPA, one with certain cream ale leanings, and a rather restrained bitterness for that nice round 100 IBU rating subtly proclaimed on the label. Right in line with the rest of this brewery's offerings, in its gateway friendliness for the style. I would gladly have this again, perhaps on tap, this time?

A - mostly clear bubbly dark golden, two fingers of fluffy head retained very nicely with random wisps of lacing
S - bubble gum, light florals, mild earthy tones, all very gentle aromas
T - butterscotch, bubble gum, and floral flavours dominate, milder earthy and leafy greens, again generally gentle flavours but definitely tasty
M - relatively light with nice carbonation, silky smooth with just a touch of hop bitterness, but again mellow making this extremely drinkable
O - the flavours are an interesting mix, more balanced and mellow than I typically like in my DIPA's, but the drinkability is so outstanding at this level of alcohol that I have to tip my hat along with another glass

Appearance: A surprisingly clear light copper body. Hard pour reveals not much more than 2 fingers worth of foam. The lacing does clump on the sides but i can't give more than a 3. Disappointed in the appearance.

Smell: Peaches slices in fruit syrup come immediately to mind. Mango as well with a sweet touch. All fruit here with no sign of bitterness.

Taste: Fruit upfront with a mix of peaches and bitter oranges. Honey candy, hints of grapefruit as well as some tea-like flavors. You can taste the raw hops.

Mouthfeel: Astringent and hoppy as bitterness invades and is barely restrained. Veers to a certain sweetness will still retaining a bitter edge.

Overall: A bold, brash yet balanced DIPA. Hoppy and flavorful. If only it looked more like a DIPA but don't let that stop you from trying this.

Bottle shared by Steve, 650ml into a tulip. 2012 bottling, supposedly in late January.

Pours a golden orange, just off-white coloured head. Light in terms of retention, lacing and legs. Filtered body. Pine and some light citrus on the nose, and some fairly prominent malt notes as well. Some sweetness, and a bit of breadiness. Lightly tropical on the palate, more pine in large amounts. Strong bitterness, over a nice malt base providing a bit more breadiness and some sweetness. Full feel, again the bitterness is prominent but the malt sweetness attempts to keep this in check. Nice, fairly bold and enjoyable.

Gonna give Granville Island's "Imperial IPA" a go in its limited release for 2012
A-served cold and poured into a stein a yellow/gold with a quick head a lacing
S-nosy bitterness of an IPA , check
T-smooth , bitter IPA almost a piny resin
MF-medium carbonation full body , check
Ov-bitterness , check

S: Citrus rind and sponge toffee, marmalade, grassy, slightly floral, alright for an IPA, but I expect more from a DIPA.

T: Pleasant grapefruit rind and piny resin, though perhaps a little subtle for a DIPA. Sponge toffee sweetness fades to a lingering bitterness, though it's not all that bitter for the style either. Hints of biscuity malt and candied pineapple. Alcohol is really sublte.

M: Well-attenuated, moderate body has a light hop acidity.

D: A really easy drinker for the style (and seriously easy for something of this strength); overall a good brew.

It's well crafted and I like it... though most people would expect a DIPA to be more of a brute.

Pors a bright copper orange that almost glows neon in the light. A clear beer with a foamy off white head. The aromas are subtle with hints of orange and pine. There is a mild honey and boozy quality typical of this style. There is a good balance between a light bitterness and a soft sweetness. I get a banana flavour. The mouthfeel is slightly dry with a light body and good carbonation. This is a very easy drinker for the percentage. Better than the average double because of its subtle flavours and smooth refinement.

T - The earthy cedar dominates, hops are a tad subdued but shine through with a citrus peel bitterness that lingers. The caramel malt balance out the bitterness and a touch of ABV heat brings it all together nicely.

M - Medium bodied and smooth but the finish is a tad overly dry for my liking.

O - A tasty DIPA and certainly worth a try, that being said it's by no means my favourite DIPA out there. Lots of flavour, though I would prefer something with less bitterness and more of a citrus hop.

A big thank you to papat444 for working this one, I'm thrilled for the opportunity to try this beer.

A - Pours a medium honey copper color, mild carbonation, and a two fingered frothy, creamy off white head. The head dies down to eventually leave a thin layer and sticky foam on the sides of the glass, sort of like cotton candy.

S - Honey caramel malt, mild marmalade, some spice, and a touch of grapefruit. The fruit aspect of the aroma comes through as sugary and sweet, but blended and controlled.

T - Caramel malt base stays throughout the sip while pine, grapefruit, and spice start nipping at the palette almost immediately.

O - The first thing that strikes me is the unusually well hidden 8.2% ABV. The bitterness is there but it's controlled, balanced, and not over the top. The malt keeps the hop bill in pretty good check until the "bitter end"...at that point, the lingering bitterness wins with a little caramel malt left underneath.

Granville Island Imperial IPA pours a slightly hazy orange with a smallish head that remains as a thin layer. The aroma is citrusy piney and herbal hops and rich caramel. The flavor is imtensely hoppy with a huge bitterness. Tons more citrus, grapefruit and orange backed up with a heavy caramel sweetness. The sweet malt is followed by a nice resiny bitterness that lingers in the aftertaste nicely. This is definitely on the maltier side of IIPAs but the hops are definitely there.